The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-08
SIMPLY WONDERFUL.
An Interesting Account of the Strang-
est Surgical Operation of the Day.

est surgical operation OF IIle Lay.
A New York letter to the Cincinnati
Enquirer says: A young and wealthy New
Yorker, who has been as bald as a billiard
ball, viii soon go back into society with
head Of curly hair which was produced for
him by transplantation from dog. His
case is one of the most remarkable surgical
operations ever known in this city, and per-
haps in the world. The young man is the
private patient of DR.. Kane, the consulting
surgeon of St. Elizabeth Hospital. He is the
son of a well-kuown dry goods merchant, and
lives in an elegant mansion on Fifth avenue.
The young man was graduated fronl Column
bia College about two years ago and was
sent TO the University at Heidelberg to COM
plete his education. 1t was there that he
met with painful accident He had taken
a special course in chemistry, and spent
much of his time in the laboratory in the
capacity of teachers assistant. One evening,
while alone, he was overcome by the vapor
of sulphuric acid, and before he could get TO
the open air fell unconscious. As he rolled
over his head entered an open fireplace
where there was a large log burning, and
his hair caught on fire. He was found
shortly afterwards. His head was in
frightful condition The flesh running from
the forehead to the shoulders in the back of
the neck was roasted. When he was lifted
to the floor portions of
THE SCALP FELL OFF,
exposing the bone. His face was not much
injured, save for about an inch on the fore
head He was taken to his room, and there
began the battle for his life. 1t was feared
that the brain had been affected, as he re-
manned in a cOrnatose condition. There was
a watery deposit in,,the lungs, but it could not
be determined whether this was due to the
inhaling of the vapor of the acid or the
flame from the fire. The lung symptoms
became worse rapidly, and all
hope was given up Of saving his
life. The best physicians in Ger
many were called to attend him, and every
thing was done that was known in medical
science. Nearly all the flesh sloughed off
from the skull, leaving patch here and
there, like an oasis in a desert. The strongest
things in the young mans favor We've the
exemplary life he had led, and the attention
he had given to the preservation of his health
and the development of bis physical system.
These stood him in better stead than the wis
dom of his physicians, and when they had
given him up nature stepped in, asserted her
power and brought the injured man back
from
THE JAWS OF DEATH.
1t was q. long time before his lungs healed,
and much longer before the horrible wound
became well enough to remove the skull-cap
bandage that he wore When ne recovered
his strength and came home, the terrible
Disagreement of the cicatricial tissue in the
scalp was hidden under wig. The wig
would have been all right but for the fact
that it set up an annoying irritation de-
veloped into a distressing inflammation
from which a discharging ulcer was
formed. The wigs had to be aban-
dOned. Several physicians were consulted,
and various things were tried to give relief
with little success. When DIR. Kanes atten-
ton was called to the case there was an
liberated surface about as large as a silver
dollar in the top of the back head He sug-
gested the performance of a plastic opera
ton, or the trenSplantation of skin. The
patient expressed his willingness to undergo
anything, however painful or inconvenient,
and as he was in fair physical condition
work was begun at once This was several
months ago. As preliminary test
SMALL SECTION OF SKIN
And flesh was cut from the patients breast
and placed in the centre of the liberation
in the scalp, which had been previously
scraped until it hled profusely, The skin
took root in an astonishing short time, much
to the qualification of the patient and physi-
clan, and from the outer border of the
transplanted skin little shoots of healthy
tissue protruded into the neighboring flesh
and grew rapidly. Other pieces were taken
from the patients breast and were placed
near the first piece, and all took fast hold
without any sloughing of tissue.
This was continued until the entire ulcer
ated surface had healed and presented a
healthy appearance. In the new flesh which
had been thus formed there was an active
| growth of capillary substance, showing that
| the HAIR cells had not been DESTROYED This
led DR.. Kane to suggest novel experiment,
which, if successful, would not only cover
the head of the patient with flesh, but also
with beautiful growth of curly hair. 1t
was nothing less than to try and transplant
| the skin Of a dog 10 the patients head 1t
| took some time for the patient to overcome
| the natural aversion to such an operation,
but finally be gave his consent, especially as
| his wealth and social position could not
compensate for the horrible deformity in his
| head.
| LARGE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG
| Was procured with fine coat of hair, and
| the patient was put under the influence of
! ether in his own room Dr. Kane had sew
eral assistants, one Of whom scraped q por-
ton of the flesh from the top Of the patient S
| head. While this was being done the dog
| was being anastheti2ed The hair on one
! of its thighs was cut close and an inefs;on
was made several inches long 4 parallel
| incision was made near the first one, and at
! the lower end these missions were Joined by
third one. The flesh and skin were then
| dissected up for several inches, leaving the
| large flap united TO the dog at the upper
! end.
The dog had been placed in an adjustable
| framework on wheels, and be was rolled to
| the PATIENTS side and raised even with the
| head. While the blood was pouring from
| the dogs flesh it was placed upon the pa
| TENTS head and pressed firmly into position.
! Strips of adhesive plaster were run in
various directions over the dogs flesh and
| tine patients head, and after the entire
| wound had been busted with chloroform
| bandages were applied. The dogs legs and
| body had been previously strapped so that
| nothing could be moved but the head, and
this was permitted to be moved only side
ways. The patients head was also held by
| supports in such a position as to take the
strain from the neck and restrict all mo-
| ton.
THE OPERATION
| took about an hour and a half, and when
| the patient became conscious fortunately
there was no vomiting from the ether The
! relative positions Of dog and man were
maintained for week. The dog was fed
regularly but did not seem to eniov his
| food The patients condition was splendid.
| ana when the flap was severed from the dog
| it was found to be firmly united 10 the
| head. As the healing went on some of the
| hair dropped out but enough was left to